AZHAR MAHMOOD scored a century to help Pakistan to a first innings total of 259 on the first day of the second Test against South Africa in Durban yesterday. The 22-year-old all-rounder hit 132. He is in scintillating form after scoring 138 in the first Test and 111 against Free State last weekend.

For good measure he also held a diving catch at gully to remove Gary Kirsten for nought as the hosts reached 23 for 1 by the close. His acrobatics brought the 19-year-old debutant Fazl-e-Akbar his first victim with only his sixth ball in Test cricket.